Beltane the Smith eBook

Thus Beltane, marching swift to the south at the head
of his three hundred foresters, heard nought of their
joyful acclaim, heeded not their triumph, saw nought
of watchful Roger’s troubled glances, but went
with head bowed low, with pallid cheek and eyes wide-staring,
for he saw yet again the fierce leap of those merciless
flames and in his ears rang the screams and cries
of Sir Rollo’s proud chivalry.

CHAPTER LXII

HOW THEY CAME TO BELSAYE FOR THE THIRD TIME

The sun was high as they came to the western road
that led to the ford at Thornaby, but upon the edge
of the forest Beltane stopped of a sudden to stare
up at an adjacent tree.

“What is’t, master?” questioned
Roger, halting beside him.

“An arrow—­and new-shot by the look
of it!” said Beltane, gloomily.

“Aye master, and it hath travelled far—­see,
it hath scarce pierced the bark!”

“’Twas shot from the brush yonder, methinks,”
said Beltane, pointing to the dense underwood that
skirted the opposite side of the dusty highway.
“Reach me it down, Roger!” so saying Beltane
stooped and hove Roger aloft until he could grasp
and draw the arrow from the tree.

“Here is no woodsman’s shaft, master!”
quoth Roger, turning the missile over in his hand
ere he gave it to Beltane, “no forester doth
wing his shafts so.”

“True!” nodded Beltane, frowning at the
arrow. “Walkyn, Ulf! here hath been an
ambushment, methinks—­’tis a likely
place for such. Let our company scatter and search
amid the fern hereabouts—­”

But even as he spake came a cry, a clamour of voices,
and Prat the archer came frowning and snapping his
restless fingers.

“My lord,” said he, “yonder doth
lie my good comrade Martin and three other fellows
of my archer-company that marched with Sir Benedict,
and all dead, lord, slain by arrows all four.”

“Show me!” said Beltane.

And when he had viewed and touched those stark and
pallid forms that lay scattered here and there amid
the bracken, his anxious frown deepened. “These
have been dead men full six hours!” quoth he.

Thus soon the three hundred were striding fast behind
Beltane, keeping ever to the forest yet well within
bow-shot of the road, and, though they travelled at
speed they went very silently, as only foresters might.